Pubdate: Sun, 28 Nov 2010
Source: Steamboat Pilot & Today, The (CO)
Copyright: 2010 The Steamboat Pilot & Today
Contact: http://www.steamboatpilot.com/submit/letters/
Website: http://www.steamboatpilot.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1549
Author: Jack Weinstein
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?277 (Cannabis - Medicinal -  Colorado)

STEAMBOAT FORUM EMBLEMATIC OF GROWING MARIJUANA INDUSTRY

1st Public Pot Talk Draws About 2 Dozen

Steamboat Springs - About two dozen Routt County residents gathered 
Monday night in the Steamboat Springs Community Center in a scene 
that is becoming commonplace across the state: Public forums hosted 
by medical marijuana supporters that focus on education, advocacy and 
networking.

Last week's meeting, organized by the owners of Rocky Mountain 
Remedies medical marijuana center and their attorney Adam Mayo, was 
the first of its kind in Steamboat.

The 90-minute gathering focused primarily on new medical marijuana 
legislation and legal issues for card-carrying patients.

Mayo, who has participated in similar meetings on the Front Range, 
said they're an indication of the growing acceptance of medical marijuana.

"If we had done this lecture a few years ago, I don't think anybody 
would have shown up," he said. "A few years ago, not as many people 
were willing to sign up for medical marijuana cards for whatever 
reason. Now, it seems, the stigma has worn off, and it is becoming 
more accepted."

Mayo appears to be seeking to carve out a niche in the medical 
marijuana industry. The Cannabis Therapy Institute, a medical 
marijuana education and advocacy group, invited him to speak last 
month in Boulder about his patient collect model. The model would 
allow patients to grow medical marijuana together in spaces that 
would function similar to a community garden. He has another 
presentation scheduled for Wednesday in Denver.

On Monday, however, much of the focus was on existing laws and 
misinformation, said Kevin Fisher, co-owner of Steamboat's Rocky 
Mountain Remedies.

"It's what we've always tried to do at RMR - educate and help out the 
community," he said.

Mayo used the forum to discuss medical marijuana patient rights. He 
advised attendees to not allow law enforcement officers to enter 
their homes unless they have warrants, and to not reveal during 
traffic stops that they are a medical marijuana cardholder unless pot is found.

He also discussed provisions of the state's new medical marijuana 
legislation, such as caregivers not being able to grow in a shared 
space, and caregivers being restricted to serving five patients.

Several of the people who attended Monday's meeting were pleased that 
it was held in Steamboat.

"I wanted to get informational resources to see if anything else was 
going on, to see if anything else has changed," said Hayden resident 
Charish Adams, a medical marijuana cardholder. "I think (the meeting) 
is great. I think they should do it more."

Steamboat resident Ray Thomas, a medical marijuana caregiver, said 
he, too, had legal questions.

"Basically, I wanted to see where we stood with the new laws for 
caregivers," he said. "It was very informative. (Mayo) was very 
upfront with everything. And I was satisfied with what he had to say."

Mayo said he wished more people would have attended the meeting, but 
he considered it a success nonetheless. He thinks that as more people 
want to learn about Colorado's medical marijuana industry, similar 
meetings could become more common in Steamboat.

Kevin Fisher and Ryan Fisher, the Rocky Mountain Remedies co-owners, 
said they are considering a private festival-type gathering for 
medical marijuana cardholders in which all proceeds would be donated 
to a local charity.

Ryan Fisher said they want to get more involved in the community.

"Especially because of what business we're in, to get it out there 
that we're normal community members," he said.

According to the most recent estimate by the Colorado Department of 
Public Health and Environment, there are 108,000 registered medical 
marijuana patients across the state. There also are 809 marijuana 
dispensaries, with Rocky Mountain Remedies being among the largest 5 
percent based on number of patients served.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom